Not the kind of signing we really want, but the upside could make this a shrewd signing for the Atlanta Braves.
On Friday, the Atlanta Braves came to an agreement with veteran relief pitcher Carl Edwards, Jr. on a minor league pact that includes an invitation to Spring Training.
Edwards seems like he’s been around forever, but is still only about 29½ years old and still has only 4½ years of MLB service time since breaking in with the Cubs and being a special part of their World Series run in 2016.
Injuries have taken a toll over the past couple of years, but when healthy, he’s got a big arm that comes with a lot of strikeouts.
Edwards has maintained an average of at least 10 K’s per 9 innings since 2016, with a 12.1 average over his career.
That does come with some wildness — 5 walks per 9 — but hitters are having a very difficult time squaring him up as he’s only allowed 97 hits in his 180+ innings pitched overall… with close to triple that number of strikeouts.
The Atlanta Braves need another right-hander in the bullpen.
The Braves are unique in that they are fairly loaded with left-handed possibilities in their bullpen, and thus Edwards will probably have the chance to get a long look this Spring if he’s able to return to full health.
Last season, he was sidelined with a forearm strain. That’s an injury that often raises red flags for possible elbow involvement, but he was shut down after just 4.2 innings with Seattle and the hope is that between the oddball 2020 season and a restful off-season… maybe this can be overcome.
If so, this might actually rank as the best off-season move by the Atlanta Braves thus far — at least among the minor league contracts that have been accepted.
Definitely looking forward to seeing what Edwards can do in February and March in the run-up to the regular season.